Biological Soil Crusts.

1. Radiotracer Imaging Technologies for Microbial Systems
Uptake of 11C-CO2 in
Moab Desert Biological Soil Crust
June 10, 2013
Nick Vandehey
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Berkeley, California, USA
ANTFARMS: Applying Noninvasive Technologies For
Analyzing Radiotracers In Microbial Systems

2. Radiotracer Imaging Technologies for Microbial Systems
BSCs Soil
Imaging Carbon Fixation
First use of nuclear imaging
for Biological Soil Crusts?

3. Radiotracer Imaging Technologies for Microbial Systems
Carbon-11
Page 39
• Radioactive isotope of carbon, neutron deficient
• Produced with proton-beam accelerator
• Decays by postitron emission
• Half-life: 20.4 minutes!
• Decay characteristics allow for non-invasive
imaging with radiological instruments

4. Radiotracer Imaging Technologies for Microbial Systems
Our BSCs
Cycanobacteria Dominated Crusts
Microcoleus Vaginatus
Crushed
Autoclaved ControlHomogenized
Natural
Autoclaved ControlIntact
Green Butte, Utah

5. Radiotracer Imaging Technologies for Microbial Systems
PC Control
Portable
Logger
BSC
Maintenance
BSC Incubation
11C-CO2
High Uptake
Med Uptake
Low Uptake
50 mm

6. Radiotracer Imaging Technologies for Microbial Systems
BSCs: Experimental Results
Natural Autoclaved
Intact
Crushed
CO2 uptake in BSCs imaged